Page 24 of Pregnant By A Rich Demon 3

I heard her voice crack. “Truth…”

“I’m not going to be like you, Mama.”

The words came out harsher than I meant them, and I immediately regretted it.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I said quickly. “I just mean—I watched you struggle my whole life. I watched you work yourself to the bone trying to take care of us. And I don’t want that for my kids. I want to be able to provide for them. I want to give them stability.”

“I know, baby.” Her voice was thick with emotion. “I know. And I’m proud of you. I’m so damn proud of you.”

The tears came again, but this time I didn’t try to stop them.

“I’m scared, Mama.”

“I know you are. But you’re strong. You’re stronger than you think. And you’re not alone. You hear me? You’ve got me. You’ve got your sisters. We’re going to get through this together. Fuck them Landrys. Rich people always got some weird shit going on.

“I know right.”

“Now get some rest. You’ve had a hell of a day. And call me tomorrow, you hear?”

“I will.”

“I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, Mama.”

I hung up and set the phone on the nightstand.

My body felt heavy, exhausted, like I’d run a marathon.

But my mind felt clear.

For the first time in weeks—maybe months—I knew exactly what I needed to do.

I needed to build a life that didn’t depend on Amai or Kaisen or anyone else.

I needed to be the woman my children deserved.

And I was going to do it.

No matter what it cost me.

I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes, my hand resting on my stomach.

“We’re going to be okay,” I whispered again. “I promise.”

And for the first time all day, I believed it.

It was time I saved my damn self.

Chapter 3

AMAI

The steering wheel was slick under my palms.

I’d been gripping it so hard for the past twenty minutes that my knuckles were sore, the leather creaking under the pressure. Sharp pain shot through my jaw from clenching my teeth. The rage that had been simmering since I discovered the empty vault had transformed into something molten—something that burned through my chest and throat like I’d swallowed acid.

The highway stretched out in front of me, dark and empty at this hour, the streetlights casting long shadows across the asphalt. I pressed harder on the gas pedal, the engine of my truck responding with a low growl that matched the fury coiling in my gut.